Tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a tape dispenser which comprises a base with chamber formed in it which comprises guide grooves formed on each respective side walls of the chamber, a blade seat with blade formed on one end of the base, a central shaft having end portions to be fitted into the guide groove also with limit members formed on the end portions, and at least two tape wheels each having a sleeve to be engaged with central shaft and a positioning structure formed thereon. Tape wheels can be sleeved on the central shaft smoothly and replaced easily without any problem. Users can use a single piece of a tape dispenser for tapes in various different dimension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tape dispenser particularly relates to one capable of dispensing tapes in different dimension.

2. Brief Description of Prior Art

Tape dispensers are commonly used office stationary for providing tapes. Referring to FIG. 1 which shows a perspective view of a conventional tape dispenser, the tape dispenser has a housing 1 with a chamber 2 formed at the central portion of the housing 1. In the housing 1, there is a roller 3 sleeved with a tape roll 4. The front end of the housing 1 is formed with a blade seat 5 in which a blade 6 is positioned. User may pull the tape from the tape roll 4 and have the same cut down with the blade 6 after it is reached to the length needed.

It is noted, with this conventional tape dispenser used in the office, the housing 1 as well as the tape roll 3 can only fit to a tape roll 4 in a fixed dimension. Therefore, several tape dispensers in different size shall be needed for tapes in different dimension to be used. It results the need of more spaces on an office table and also causes inconvenience to a user. The roller 3, while mounted in the chamber 2, is not firmly held in the same and will fall out from time to time. This also causes problem to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the principle object of the present invention to provide a tape dispenser with tape rolls in different dimension so that user may easily choose to use those tapes with one single tape dispenser.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tape dispenser in which the tape roll is firmly held in the chamber of the housing.

Accordingly, the primary feature of the tape dispenser according to the present invention is to provide a central shaft with two opposite end portions each formed with limit protrusions having guide slope and a notch between the limit protrusions so that the tape wheel of the tape dispenser can be smoothly sleeved on the central shaft.

Another feature of the tape dispenser according to the present invention is to provide a guide grooves on each respect side wall of the chamber. The guide groove is in a shape with the opening toward the end away from the blade seat so that while using the tape dispenser, the tape wheel will not be pulled out of the chamber of the base.

Still another feature of the tape dispenser according to the present invention is to provide a tape wheel comprises a first rib and second rib structure on the peripheral of the tape wheel. Press plates are formed on top of the second rib and each press plate has press strips formed on them so that the tape roll can be installed on the tape wheel firmly.

Still a further feature of the tape dispenser according to the present invention is to provide a limit member at each end portion of the central shaft. The limit member comprises limit protrusions having guide slope formed thereon so that the tape wheel can be smoothly sleeved on the central shaft.

In summary, the tape dispenser according to the present invention comprises a base with chamber formed in it and with guide grooves formed on each respective side walls, a blade seat with blade formed on one end of the base, a central shaft having end portions to be fitted into the guide groove also with limit members formed on the end portions, and at least two tape wheels each having a sleeve to be engaged with central shaft and a positioning structure formed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and features of the tape dispenser according to the present invention can become apparent from the below detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the tape dispenser according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional tape dispense;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a tape dispenser according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of a tape dispenser according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the first embodiment of a tape dispenser according to the present invention to show tape wheel and the positioning structure;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of the first embodiment of a tape dispenser according to the present invention to show the tape wheel sleeved with tape roll; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tape dispenser according to the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 which show a perspective and exploded the invention, the tape dispenser comprises a base 10 with a chamber 11 formed therein with a pair of opposite side walls 111. On each respective side wall 111, there is formed a guide groove 112 which is in a shape slightly bent with an opening end toward the top of the side wall 111 and also toward the end away from the blade seat 21. The chamber 11 is formed with a concave bottom to be fitted with a tape roll stored therein.

A blade seat 20 is formed on one end of the base 10 with a blade 21 installed therein.

A central shaft 30 with two opposite end portions 31 to be fitted into the guide grooves 112 of the respective side walls 111. There is a ring portion 33 formed on the middle of the central shaft 30 and extended radially and outwardly from the same. Further with reference to FIG. 4 which is a vertical sectional view along the central shaft 30 of the tape dispenser, there is formed a limit member 34 at each end portion 31. Each limit member 34 comprises a pair of limit protrusions 341 radially with respect to the central shaft 30 and with a slot 32 formed between the pair of limit protrusions 341. Each of the limit protrusions 341 is formed with a guide slope 342. The entire central shaft 30 can be made of, but not limited to, plastics to maintain certain elasticity.

In FIG. 3, there are two tape wheels 40 with sleeve 41 to be associated with central shaft 30. The tape wheel 40 will be installed on the central shaft 30 and between the ring portion 33 and the limit member 34. Referring to FIG. 5, the tape wheel 40 comprises a positioning structure 42 at the peripheral portion where a tape roll 43 is mounted. The positioning structure 42 has a plurality of first ribs 421 formed radially and outwardly along the peripheral of the tape wheel 40. Each first rib 421 is spaced arranged to protrude on the peripheral of the tape wheel 40 and in a shape gradually narrowed in the direction outwardly. There are second ribs 422 each formed on a respective first rib 421. Each second rib 422 extends outwardly with a press plate 423 formed on the top portion of the second rib 422. At two respective end of the press plate 423, there is formed a press strip 424. This can be more clearly seen and understood from the perspective view of structure of the tape wheel 40 shown in FIG. 3. Since the entire tape wheel 40 is made of plastic and therefore it maintains flexibility and elasticity.

While assemble the tape wheel 40 with a tape roll 43 on it, please see FIGS. 3 and 4. The tape wheel 40 shall be guided by the limit protrusions 341 and sleeved on the central shaft 30. Afterwards, the entire central shaft 30 with a pair of mounted tape wheels 40 will be placed into the chamber 11 of the base 10 with two end portions 31 fitted into the respective guide grooves 112 of the side walls 111. Users pull the tape from the tape roll 43 on the tape wheel 40 toward the blade seat 21. Because the guide grooves 112 is formed with the opening toward the end away from the blade seat 21, the tape wheel 40 will not be pulled out from the chamber 11 of the tape base 10.

Since there is a guide slope 342 formed on the limit protrusions 341, this makes the assembly of tape wheel 40 on to the central shaft 30 more smoothly. In a reverse manipulation to detach the tape wheel 40 from the central shaft 30, user may slightly squeeze the limit protrusion 341 to make the outer shell of the central shaft 30 to deform a little bit radially because there is a notch 32 provided between the limit protrusions 341. Thus the distance of the two protrusions 341 is less than the diameter of the sleeve 41 of the tape wheel 40.

Referring to FIG. 3 with reference to FIG. 5, when a tape roll 43 is to be installed on the tape wheel 40, the press plate 423 will be pressed by the force from tape roll 43 against the press strips 424. Therefore, no matter the dimension of the tape roll 43, it can always be fitted tightly to the tape wheel 40 as long as the slight deformation of the press plates 423.

Referring to FIG. 6 which show a second embodiment of a tape dispenser according to the present invention, it is clearly can be seen the tape dispenser 10 comprises two tape wheels 40 but in different dimension. As long as the structure of the tape wheel and the central shaft are in the same structure as those in the first embodiment according to the present invention, the tape dispenser shall have the same features and advantages.

Although the tape dispenser according to the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments, it is apparent that various changes and modifications can be readily made, such as to include more than two tape wheels on a single central shaft, without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tape dispenser comprising a base with a chamber formed therein having respective guide groove formed on each respective side wall of said chamber; a blade seat with blade formed on one end of the base; a central shaft having end portions to be fitted into said guide groove and limit members formed on said end portions; and at least two tape wheels each having a sleeve to be engaged with said central shaft and a positioning structure formed on the outer peripheral thereof.
 2. A tape dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said central shaft further comprising a ring portion formed thereon so that the tape wheel is positioned between said ring portion and said limit member.
 3. A tape dispenser according to claim 1 wherein each of said limit members of said central shaft comprising a pair of limit protrusions having a notch formed between them.
 4. A tape dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said positioning structure comprising a plurality of first ribs and second ribs, each of said first rib protruding from the peripheral of said tape wheel, each of said second rib integrally formed with respective first rib to extend radially with respect to the sleeve of said tape wheel, a press plate formed on each of said second rib with a plurality of press strips formed thereon.
 5. A tape dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said guide groove having an opening bent toward the direction away from said blade seat.
 6. A tape dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said central shaft and said tape wheel being made of plastic materials.
 7. A tape dispenser according to claim 3 wherein said limit protrusion of said limit member being formed with a guide slope thereof. 